Shipping case with stitched ripcord



P 1969 L. A. NELSON 3,469,766

SHIPPING CASE WITH STITCHED RIPCORD Filed Nov. 21, 1967 6 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR IZMW ATTORNEYS FIG 5 I LLOYD A. NELSON Sept. 30, 1969 L. A.NELSON 3,469,766

SHIPPING CASE WITH STITCHED RIPCORD Filed Nov. 21, 1967 6 Sheets-Sheet 2l J INVENTOR. BY LLOYD A. NELSON ATTORNEYS v 230 F W W p 30, 1969 1.. A.NELSON 3,469,766

SHIPPING CASE WITH STITCHED RIPCORD Filed NOV. 21, 1967 6 Sheets-Sheet IW g W ATTORNEYS Sept. 30, 1969 L. A. NELSON SHIPPING CASE WITH STITCHEDRIPCORD 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 21, 1967 FIG-12326 s---------. .w w.www

INVENTOR.

LLOYD A. NELSON FIG...14

ATTORNEYS Sept. 30, 1969 1.. A. NELSON 3,4

SHIPPING CASE WITH STITCHED RIPCORD Filed Nov. 21, 1967 6 Sheets-Sheet 5INVENTOR.

LLOYD A. NELSON BY WWW ATTORNEYS Sept. 30, 1969 L. A. NELSON SHIPPINGCASE WITH STITCHED RIPCORD INVENTOR. LLOYD A. NELSON BY Filed Nov. 21,1967 ATTORNEYS United States Patent ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Ashipping case of corrugated fiber material which has stitched ripcordmeans therein for severing the same into top and bottom portions,whereby contents of the shipping case will become exposed and accessiblefor removal from the bottom portion. The stitched ripcord means can beutilized with regular slotted container-type shipping cases and shippingcases of the wraparound type.

This is a continuation-in-part of my copending applications Ser. No.551,108, filed May 18, 1966, entitled Shipping Case With StitchedRipcord, now abandoned, and Ser. No. 589,552 filed Oct. 26, 1966,entitled Shipping Case With Stitched Ripcord, now abandoned.

This invention relates to improvements in shipping cases and, moreparticularly, to a shipping case of corrugated material having animproved tear member or ripcord for opening the same.

The present invention resides in a shipping case of corrugated materialhaving stitched ripcord means formed therein so that the shipping casemay be severed by the ripcord means not only to open the shipping case,but also to separate the same into top and bottom portions. Theinvention is especially suitable for use with shipping cases ofcorrugated fiber material such as cardboard or the like. Also, stitchedripcord means can be formed in shipping cases of different types such asregular slotted container-type shipping cases and Wraparound shippingcases. In both cases, the ripcord means can be stitched in the blankwhich is subsequently manipulated to assemble or form the shipping caseitself. A pull string or pull tab can also be provided to initiate thesevering action of the ripcord means.

In the past, shipping cases have been opened by knives or other cuttinginstruments. However, this operation oftentimes damages the contents ofthe case since the knife may penetrate too deeply into the interior ofthe shipping case. When glass jars or tin cans are inside the case,fracture points can be formed on the glass jars and corrosion points candevelop on tin cans. Much damage is caused to products of aluminum,paper, plastic and the like.

High strength tape applied to the inner surface of a shipping case hasalso been used in the past for opening the case. The tape must be pulledoutwardly and through the case side wall to open the same and, if thematerial forming the side wall is relatively thick or strong, thepulling force on the tape must be quite large. Also, this may notprovide a clean out since the pulling force may not be exerted in theplane of the tape.

Still another way of severing a shipping case is to provide score linesin the case side wall to define a tear member strip capable of beingpulled outwardly of the case. However, score lines weaken the side walland limit the use of the case itself.

The present invention overcomes the problems set forth above byutilizing a stitched ripcord which allows considerable latitude in theselection of the material for forming the shipping case. For instance,the distance beice tween adjacent perforations in the shipping caseformed by the stitching needle can be selected according to the strengthof the material of the case. Also, the type of stitching can be chosenin accordance with the spacing and the type of string or tear member.The stitching can be quickly accomplished as a simple, additional stepin the formation of the shipping case blank and a pull string or pulltab can also be quickly and easily provided for the ripcord.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a shipping casehaving a flexible tear member stitched therein so that the tear member,when it is pulled outwardly, will sever the shipping case into top andbottom portions.

Another object of this invention is to provide a stitched tear member inthe blank of a shipping case whereby the teachings of the invention canbe applied to shipping cases of different types, such as regular slottedcontainertype shipping case and a wraparound shipping case.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stitched tear member ina shipping case of corrugated fiber material wherein the stitchingitself can be varied as to the type of stitch, the strength of the tearmember and the spacing between the stitching holes so that the teachingsof the invention are applicable to shipping cases which meet differentrequirements.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent as the followingspecification progresses, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings for illustration of several ways in which the invention can beutilized.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a regular slotted container-typeshipping case having a single stitched ripcord;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the blank for forming the shipping caseof FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the side wall of theshipping case of FIG. 1, showing the way in which the ripcord may beapplied;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the shipping case as itis being opened;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the shipping case of FIG. 1with a pair of stitched ripcords;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the ripcord having anextension providing a pull string therefor;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the blank used to form the case of FIG.6;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the shipping case of FIG. 6as it is being assembled;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a pair of regular slottedcontainer-type shipping case blanks being stitched to form the ripcordstherein;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view of a portionof the shipping case of FIG. 6 showing the ripcord as it is beingstitched;

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10 but showing the severing action ofthe ripcord;

FIG. 12 is perspective view of a wrap-around type shipping case having astitched ripcord;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the shipping case of FIG. 12 after ithas been opened;

FIG. 14 is a plan view of the stitched blank for making the shippingcase of FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 12 but showing the shipping casestitched in a different way.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the shipping case of FIG. 15 after ithas been opened;

FIG. 17 is a plan view of the stitched blank for making the shippingcase of FIG. 15;

FIG. 18 is a view similar to FIGS. 12 and 15 but showing the shippingcase stitched in still another way;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the shipping case of FIG. 18 after ithas been opened;

FIG. 20 is a plan view of the stitched blank for making the shippingcase of FIG. 18; and

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary cross-sectional View of the shipping case ofFIG. 18.

The teachings of this invention, as utilized with a regular slottedcontainer-type shipping case 10, may be described with reference toFIGS. l-5 wherein shipping case has top and bottom flaps 12 and 14respectively, these flaps being hingedly coupled to side wall panels 16along fold lines 18. A blank 20 for forming case 10 is shown in FIG. 2and preferably is stamped from a sheet of perforable, bendable material,such as corrugated fiber material or cardboard. Blank 20 is providedwith a projection or boxmakers tab 22 which is used to interconnect theoutermost side wall panels 16 to present the substantially continuousside wall of case 10.

Case 10 has a tear member 24, such as a string or cord, stitched in itsside wall to permit severing of the latter and thereby the separation ofthe top portion 26 from the bottom portion 28. Tear member 24 isstitched in blank 20 by advancing the latter through a stitching machineso that tear member 24 will extend from end edge 30 of blank 20 to atleast the opposite end edge 32. Blank 20 is also die-cut to define tabmeans to initiate the severing action of tear member 24. While this tabmeans may be of any configuration, it is preferred that it comprises apair of tabs 34 and 36 and that tear member 24 be comprised of a firstsection 37 extending from tab 34 to end edge 30 and a second section 39extending from tab 36 to at least end edge 32 and preferably through tab22 (FIG. 2). The presence of tear member 24 does not interfere with theformation of case 10 from blank 20 inasmuch as member 24 is flexible andfreely permits the bending of the blank at the junctions betweenadjacent side wall panels 16.

In use, blank 20 is initially formed in any suitable manner, such as bya stamping process. The blank is then moved through a stitching machineso that tear member 24 can be formed in side wall panels 16 in spanningrelationship to end edge 30 and 32. The stitching will preferably passthrough tab 22 as shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 illustrates one way in whichthe stitching operation occurs. A reciprocal needle 38 carrying onestrand 40 of a string or cord cooperates with a spool 42 carrying asecond strand 44. As needle 38 pierces the corresponding side wall panel16 it forms aligned perforations or needle holes 46, 48 and 50 throughlayer 52, corrugation 54 and layer 56 defining the side wall panel 16.Strands 40 and 44 are simultaneously threaded through these alignedholes to present the particular stitching of the type shown in FIG. 3.

Apparatus other than that shown in FIG. 3 can be used for stitchingmember 24 in the side wall of case 10.

This will allow for variations in the spacings between.

adjacent sets of holes 46, 48 and 50 as well as for variations in thesize of the holes, the type of string or cord used and the type ofstitch employed. Such variations permit considerable latitude in theselection of the material for forming the shipping case. For instance,for relatively high strength material, the sets of holes can be spacedcloser together than for material of less strength. Also, larger orsmaller needles can be used depending upon the strength characteristicsthat are to be maintained for case 10.

After the stitching operation has been performed, tabs 34 and 36 aredie-cut in one of the outermost side wall panels 16. Blank 20 is thenmanipulated to form case 10 in the usual way. The contents can be placedin the case and the top flaps are then closed so that the case is readyfor shipment or storage.

To open case 10, tab 34 is grasped and pulled outwardly in the mannershown in FIG. 4. As this occurs, section 37 of tear member 24successively severs the various side wall portions between adjacent setsof perforations 46, 48 and 50 to, in turn, progressively sever the side.4 wall of case 10. The severing action of section 37 will cease as itreaches a location on case 10 corresponding to end edge 30 of blank 29.It is then a simple matter to grasp tab 36 and pull it outwardly tocomplete the severance of the corresponding side wall panel 16 bysection 39. Top portion 26 can then be lifted from bottom portion 28 toexpose the contents.

Case 10 is cleanly severed by the action of tear member 24 so thatbottom portion 28 can be used in displaying the contents supportedthereby, in lieu of moving the contents out of portion 28 for placementelsewhere.

A second Way of utilizing a ripcord structure in a regular slottedcontainer-type shipping case is shown in FIG. 5 wherein shipping casehas a pair of tear members 124 stitched in the side wall panels 116thereof, each tear member being sectioned in the manner set forth aboveso that a pair of tabs 134 and 136 die-cut in one of the panels 116 canbe used to initiate the severing action of the sections of the tearmembers. Except for the pair of tear members, case 110 is identical toand constructed in the same manner as case 10. The double tear memberconstruction is used with certain types of corrugated fiber materialwhere it is desired to open the case by pulling the band of materialbetween the tear members as well as the tear members themselves.

Another way of providing a stitched ripcord in a regular slottedcontainer-type shipping case is shown in FIGS. 6-11 wherein shippingcase 210 is formed from a blank 212 having longitudinal fold lines 214and a number of transverse fold lines 216 disposed to present the bottomflaps 218, the top flaps 220 and the side and end panels 222 of case210. A boxmakers tab 224 is integral with one edge of a side panel 222.

Blank 212 is formed from a sheet of corrugated fiber material and thesheet is stamped to define fold lines 214 and 216 and to form the slits226 between adjacent flaps 218 and 220. The blank is handled in theusual manner to form case 210, the assembly of the case being shown inFIG. 8 wherein one end panel 222 is separated from tab 224 and bottomflaps 218 are in place.

Blank 212 is direct-ed through a sewing machine so that a tear member orripcord 228 is stitched in panels 222 and tab 224 as shown in FIG. 7.Ripcord 228 may be closer to bottom flaps 218 than it is to top flaps220. Thus, the side wall of the tray 231 (FIG. 6) formed by severingcase 210 will allow the labels on the products on the tray to be readilyobserved.

Ripcord 228 has an end 230 which projects outwardly from edge 232 ofblank 212. End 230 provides a pull string for starting the severingaction of the ripcord. Also, ripcord 228 extends completely through andprojects outwardly from tab 224 at the opposite end of blank 212 to forma tail. Thus, the ripcord completely severs the case into top and bottomportions when it is pulled outwardly and about the case.

End 230 is advantageously formed by first moving a number of blanks 212successively through a sewing machine in the manner shown in FIG. 9.Adjacent blanks are spaced apart and the stitching of the blanks isuninterrupted so that a length 234 of the stitching materialinterconnects the blanks. Length 234 is preferably about 3" long and itis cut so that the end 230 is approximately 2% long. This provides aconvenient length for the pull screen and avoids having to form tabsintegral with the case side wall.

FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate a preferred form of the stitch used toconstruct ripcord 228. This stitch comprises a two thread type 401Federal chain wherein a pair of strings or threads 236 and 238 areinterconnected by the action of a needle 240, with thread 238 being onthe normally innermost surface 242 of the corresponding panel 222.Needle 240 forms a number of spaced perforations 244 through the sheets246 and the corrugated panel 248 between sheets 246 which define panel222. The distance between perforations 244, the material of the threads236 and 238 and the size of needle 240 can be varied, as desired. Also,the grade and material of panel 222 can be changed to match thefirst-mentioned parameters.

The threads of ripcord 228 are of any suitable material provided theyhave a strength sufiicient to avoid being broken as they cut through thecase side wall. Nylon cord is one type of thread adapted for thispurpose.

In FIG. end 230 is shown extending outwardly from panel 222 before thepanel is to be severed. Generally, end 230 will hang along the side ofthe case due to the flexibility of ripcord 228. In FIG. 11, the panelhas been partially severed and ripcord 228 extends outwardly undertension from panel 222. The inner thread clearly severs the portions ofsheet 246 and panel 248 between perforation 244 so that the panel isdivided along the line passing through the perforations.

In certain applications, it may be desirable to form an edge differentfrom the straight line edge resulting from the severing action ofripcord 228 (FIGS. 6 and 8). With respect to this, the edge maydesirably be sawtoothed or irregular in configuration. To provide for aspecific edge configuration, the ripcord is stitched in panels 222according to the desired configuration so that the particular edgeresults when the tear member severs the panels as described above. Inall cases, the threads of the tear member follow the contour of thedesign provided by the side wall perforations.

In use, case 210 is partially assembled with the top flaps open. Thecontents are placed in the case and the top flaps are closed andadhesively or otherwise secured together. The case is then moved to apoint of use or to a storage area until it is ready to be used.

To open the case, it is only necessary to grasp the pull string of theripcord to pull it away from the case. As this occurs, the case sidewall is severed to form tray 231 with the contents supported thereon.The top portion formed by the severing action can then be discardedwhile the tray can be placed on a shelf or the ilke for displaying thecontents.

A wraparound shipping case having one form of a stitched ripcord meanstherein is broadly denoted by the numeral 310 and includes a body formedfrom an initially flat sheet of corrugated fiber material or othersuitable shipping case material. Shipping case 310 has a number of wallsor panels, specifically, a bottom panel 312, a pair of opposed sidepanels 314 and 316, a top panel 318, a pair of inside end panels 320 anda pair of outside end panels 322. Case 310 also has a ripcord 324stitched in certain of the panels thereof to permit the case to beopened and to be separated into top and bottom sections denoted by thenumerals 326 and 328, respectively (FIGS. 12 and 13). FIG. 13 showsbottom section 328 after top section 326 has been separated therefromwith various articles 330 being supported on the bottom section andexposed or displayed.

Case 310 is made with end tabs 332 on side panel 314 and end tabs 334 onside panel 316 so that the articles in the case can be better packagedby slightly decreasing the volume of the case. Also, the articles can bebetter packaged at increased speeds and without damage and provides thatthe articles be compacted to prevent relative movement of the articlesin the case.

FIG. 14 illustrates outer or print-receiving face of the blank 336 forforming case 310. Blank 336 is made in any suitable manner, such as by astamping process or the like to define the various panels and at thesame time, to provide the necessary fold lines and slots 'at thejunctions of adjacent panels.

Panel 314 is hingedly coupled at fold lines 338 and 340 to bottom andtop panels 312 and 318, respectively, and side panel 316 is connected atfold line 342 to top panel 318. The attachment or boxmakers tab 344 ishingedly connected along a fold line 346 to bottom panel 312.

End panels 320 are hingedly connected at fold lines 348 to bottom panel312 and end panels 322 are connected at fold lines 350 to top panel 318and tabs 334 are connected at fold lines 354 to side panel 316.

Ripcord 324 is stiched in blank 336 along the generally continuous pathshown in FIG. 14. One way to accomplish this is to commence thestitching operation at location 355 and then progressively stitching theblank as shown in FIG. 3 beyond the proximal tab 334 to provide a pullstring 356. Thus, the stitching proceeds along and adjacent to one foldline 350 corresponding to one end panel 322, then longitudinally throughpanel 314. The stitching continues along and adjacent to the other foldline 350 adjacent to the other panel 322, and finally along and throughpanel 316 from which it emerges to form pull string 356. Essentially,therefore, the ripcord defines a generally continuous path, so that,when the ripcord is pulled away from the case, it will sever the caseand divide it into top and bottom portions, permitting the top portionto be removed from the bottom portion so that the latter will not onlycontinue to support articles 330 in the manner shown in FIG. 13 but willdisplay the articles as well.

One way of assembling case 310 can be described with reference to thepackaging of a number of articles 330 which are initially arranged in amovable slug in a predetermined pattern, such as a slug of 24 articlesin a 4 x 6 pattern. Blank 336 will initially be in a stack arranged in amagazine. When each blank is fed from the magazine, it is formed by aplow into an L shape with one leg down. The blank is then moved into thepath of the slug of articles and, as this is done, a hinged memberraises the bottom of the case to form a slide surface to accept theslug. At this stage, the blank is C-shaped with the articlestherewithin. A conveyor with overhead crossbars then carries the blankdownstream and adhesives are applied so that tab 344 can be glued topanel 316. As the blank moves downstream, both panels 320 are folded up,then end tabs 332 and 334 are folded and glued to panel 320. Glue isapplied to panels 322 and they are then folded down and held undercompression until the glue sets.

Other ways of assembling the wraparound shipping case can be used, ifdesired.

When it is desired to open the case, stretch 356 of the ripcord isgrasped and pulled away from the case, whereupon the case is severed bythe action of the ripcord passing through the corresponding panels. Thesevering action continues until the ripcord is completely pulled throughthe shipping case so as to define the top and bottom portions with thetop portion being immediately removable from the bottom portion. Thebottom portion, therefore, provides a tray for supporting articles 330as thesame are lifted into place onto a display shelf or otherwise usedwhile the articles remain confined between the two side wall portions358 (FIG. 13) and the end walls of the case. Articles 330 can then beremoved, as desired, from the bottom section.

A second way of utilizing a stitched ripcord means in a wraparoundshipping case is shown in FIGS. 15-17 wherein a shipping case 410 has aripcord 424 stitched therein and extending about the same to permit thecase to be separated into a top section 426 and a bottom section 428when the ripcord is pulled in a direction to sever the case. The bottomsection will have the configuration shown in FIG. 16 wherein one endwall of the case will be essentially intact while the opposite end wallwill essentially be removed from bottom section 428. This particularconfiguration of bottom section 428 allows articles 430 supported onsection 428 to be moved upwardly or forwardly off the same, whereby thebottom section can provide a supporting tray for the articles such .ason a display shelf or the like.

The blank 436 which is used to define case 410 is substantiallyidentical to blank 336 shown in FIG. 14. In blank 436, however, theripcord spans the distance between a pair of opposed side edges of blank436 and follows a serpentine path between the edges. The ripcord has apull string 4S6 adjacent to one side edge of panel 416.

The ripcord is stitched in the blank with the fold scores of the blankfacing downwardly and with the printreceiving face or the needle entryside facing upwardly. The stitching preferably begins at edge 459' andproceeds across panel 420 approximately A" from the adjacent fold line448, then across the slot adjacent to the proximal tab 432, then along aradius into panel 414, then through panel 414, then across to andthrough panel 422 along the top panel side of the adjacent fold line450, and then across to and through panel 416 from which the ripcordemerges to form a pull string 456.

Case 410 can be assembled in the same way as case 310 and, when properlyassembled, pull string 456 will be accessible so that it can be graspedand pulled outwardly to open the shipping case and sever it into top andbottom portions.

To open the case, pull strip 456 is grasped and pulled outwardly fromthe case, whereupon the case is severed along the line defined by theripcord. The resulting wall configuration of bottom section 428 will beas shown in FIG, 16 with one end wall substantially intact and with onlya relatively small portion 420a of the opposite end wall attached tobottom section 428 inasmuch as the ripcord passes along the end panel420 about A away from fold line 443. Portion 420a thus prevents thearticles from moving laterally and off bottom section 428 when thelatter supports and displays the articles. However, the removal of oneend wall of the case allows the articles to be removed from bottomsection 428 more readily since they can be moved essentially laterallyas well as upwardly. Also, this feature also gives full view of thearticles for convenience, etc.

A third Way of utilizing a stitched ripcord means in a wraparoundshipping case is shown in FIGS. 18-21 Wherein a shipping case 510 has astitched ripcord means 524 and is adapted to hold a plurality ofarticles 530 and to be severed along a relatively straight lineextending about the case to define a bottom section 528 whose side andend walls are essentially of the same height. The feature may oftentimesbe required where uniformity in side wall height is desired either forreasons of practicality or to present a specific appearance for displaypurposes. While the side and end walls of bottom section 528 are shownas being uniform in height, this is not necessary and the upper edges ofthese walls could be inclined, if desired, it being clear that this canbe accomplished by the specific way in which the ripcord is stitched inthe blank which defines the case.

The blank (FIG. 20) for forming case 510 is broadly denoted by thenumber 536 and is substantially identical in all respects to blanks 336and 436. In blank 536, however, ripcord means 524 comprises two ripcords524a and 5241). One of the ripcords severs one of the side panels and afirst pair of end panels; whereas, the other ripcord severs the otherside wall and the other pair of end panels.

Ripcord 524a has an end pull strip 556a and enters the blank at one sideof one of the end panels 520. The stitching continues through this endpanel, then across and into and through panel 514, then across and intoand through the opposite end panel 520, and finally across and into andthrough a portion of tab 544 from which ripcord 524a emerges to formpull string 556a.

The opposite ripcord 524b has a pull string 55Gb and enters one of theend panels 522 and passes therethrough, following which the ripcordpasses into and through the other side panel 516. The ripcord thenpasses into and through the opposite end panel 522 and emerges therefromto form pull string 556]).

Shipping case 510 can be assembled in the same Way as cases 310 and 410and, when properly assembled, case 510 will have pull strings 556a and556b accessible so that they can be grasped and pulled outwardly to openthe case and to sever it into top and bottom portions. To open the case,ripcord 524a is first pulled away from the case to sever the portion ofthe panels through which the same extends. Firstly, pull strip 556a isgrasped and pulled away from the case, whereupon panel 516 is severedalong line of weakness 517, following which ripcord 524a is pulledthrough a portion of tab 544, through the first end panel 520, throughside panel 514 and finally through the other end panel 520. This actionmerely severs only a part of the case and the other ripcord must bepulled to sever the remaining part of the case.

Pull strip 55612 is then grasped and pulled outwardly, whereupon theripcord passes through and severs the first end panel 522, then passesthrough and severes the other side panel 216 and finally passes throughand severs the other end panel 522. The top section 526 can then belifted off bottom section 528 to expose articles 530 and to allow bottomsection 528 to serve as a tray for moving or displaying the articles.

While the teachings of the invention have been described with respect toregular slotted containers type and wraparound shipping cases, it isclear that such teachings can be applied to other shipping cases aswell.

While several embodiments of this invention have been shown anddescribed, it will be apparent that other adaptations and modificationscan be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:

1. A shipping case comprising a body formed from corrugated materialcapable of being stitched; and ripcord means stitched in said body forsevering the same, said ripcord means having a pair of ends atrespective locations on said body with said locations being in proximityto each other, said ripcord means extending away from said locations andalong a line interconnecting said locations with said line defining asubstantially continuous boundary between a pair of portions of thebody, whereby said pair of body portions will be separated from eachother at said boundary when said ripcord means is pulled along said linefrom one of said locations to the other location.

2. A shipping case comprising: a body formed from corrugated materialcapable of being stitched and having a number of panels, a pair of saidpanels defining a pair of spaced side walls; and ripcord means stitchedin said body and extending longitudinally of and through said side wallsfor separating the body along a substantially continuous line into a topportion and a bottom portion when the ripcord means is pulled outwardlyof the body.

3. In a shipping case: a substantially continuous, perforable side wallof corrugated material having spaced top and bottom margins; and a tearmember stitched in and extending substantially completely about saidside wall between said margins, and adapted to be pulled outwardly ofthe side wall to sever the same and thereby divide it into upper andlower portions.

4. In a shipping case as set forth in claim 3, wherein said tear memberhas an end, and wherein is provided tab means formed in said side walland being separable therefrom, said end of the tear member being coupledto said tab means whereby the tab means can be pulled outwardly from theside wall to initiate the severing ac- Hon.

5. In a shipping case as set forth in claim 3 wherein said tear memberis stitched in said side Wall along a. single line extendinglongitudinally of said margins.

6. A blank for forming a shipping case having a substantially continuousside wall comprising: a substantially fiat, perforable sheet adapted tobe manipulated to form a shipping case and having elongated panel meansof corrugated fiber material defining the side wall of the shippingcase; and a tear member stitched in and extending substantially theentire length of said panel means and adapted, when said shipping caseis formed, to be pulled outwardly of the side wall thereof to sever thesame and thereby divide it into upper and lower portions.

7. In a shipping case: a side wall of corrugated material; and aflexible ripcord stitched in said side wall and extending completelyabout the same, said ripcord having an end portion integral therewithand extending outwardly of said side wall, whereby the end portion maybe grasped and pulled to initiate a severing of the side wall by saidripcord.

8. In a shipping case as set forth in claim 7, wherein said ripcordcomprises a pair of threads, proximal ends of said threads beingintertwined together to form said end portion.

9. A blank for forming a shipping case comprising a sheet of corrugatedfiber material having a stretch defining a number of interconnected sidepanels; and a flexible ripcord stitched in said stretch and extendingfrom one extremity thereof to at least its opposite extremity, saidripcord having an end portion extending outwardly from said oneextremity, said end portion adapted to be grasped and pulled to initiatethe severing action of said ripcord.

10. A shipping case comprising a body of corrugated material capable ofbeing stitched and having panel structure including a first top panel, afirst bottom panel, and a pair of opposed side panels, one of the sidepanels being integral with and spanning the distance between theadjacent side marginal edges of the top and bottom panels, the otherside panel being integral with and extending outwardly from the oppositeside marginal edge of one of said first panels, said top, bottom andside panels defining an article-receiving space; and ripcord meansstitched in said body for severing the panel structure along asubstantially continuous path sufficient to separate the body into topand bottom portions.

11. A shipping case as set forth in claim 10, wherein said ripcord meansincludes a ripcord having a first section extending through said oneside panel longitudinally of said side marginal edges, a second stretchextending longitudinally of and adjacent to one end marginal edge of afirst of the top and bottom panels, a third stretch extending throughsaid other side panel longitudinally of said side marginal edges, and afourth stretch extending along and adjacent to the other end marginaledge of said first panel.

12. A shipping case as set forth in claim 10, wherein said ripcord meansincludes a ripcord having a first stretch extending through said otherside panel longitudinally of said side marginal edges, a second stretchextending longitudinally of and adjacent to an end marginal edge of thetop panel, a third stretch extending through said one side panellongitudinally of said side marginal edges, and a fourth stretchextending longitudinally of and adjacent to an end marginal edge of thebottom panel.

13. A shipping case as set forth in claim 10, wherein said panelstructure includes a pair of opposed end panels for each of the top andbottom panels, respectively, said ripcord means including a pair ofripcords, one ripcord having a first stretch extending through one endpanel of said bottom panel longitudinally of said end marginal edges, asecond stretch extending through said one side panel longitudinally ofsaid side marginal edges, and a third stretch extending through theother end panel of said bottom panel longitudinally of said end marginaledges, the second ripcord having a first stretch extending through oneend panel of said top panel longitudinally of said end marginal edges, asecond stretch extending through said other side panel longitudinally ofsaid side marginal edges, and a third stretch extending through theother end panel of said top panel longitudinally of said end marginaledges.

14. A blank for a shipping case comprising: a relatively fiat sheet ofmaterial capable of being stitched and folded, said sheet having anumber of fold lines and a plurality of slots therein to present a firsttop panel, a first bottom panel, a pair of opposed side panels, and apair of opposed end panels for each of the top and bottom panels,respectively, said sheet adapted to be folded along said fold lines toarrange the panels in respective location sufiicient to cause the panelsto form a shipping case, one of the side panels being integral with andspanning the distance between the adjacent side marginal edges of thetop and bottom panels, the other side panel being integral with andextending outwardly from the opposite side marginal edge of one of saidfirst panels, the end panels being integral with corresponding endmarginal edges of respective top and bottom panels; and ripcord meansstitched in said sheet and extending longitudinally of said side panelsfor severing the sheet along a substantially continuous line into topand bottom portions when the sheet is folded to form said shipping caseand when the ripcord means is pulled outwardly thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,323,779 7/ 1943 Kennedy 229-513,043,490 7/1962 Burnett 229-51 3,159,328 12/1964 Keim 22951 3,276,66510/ 1966 Rasmussen 229-51 3,301,687 1/1967 Davy 229-51 DAVID M.BOCKENEK, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 229-37

